"Everyone knows somebody that needs to read this book (Perseverance) !" –Kathie Lee Gifford, Live on NBC’s Today Show
"Perseverance offers… profound insight for all of us seeking to lead a meaningful life." –Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of A Whole New Mind
Buy Perseverance
February 6th, 2012 | 9 Comments »
This quote is one of my absolute favorites. It never loses its significance. Whenever you feel overwhelmed or uncertain, choose to bring your focus to your next step. Take a single step and then begin again. As you take single steps forward, your perspective will shift providing a new vantage point from which to assess your journey.
photograph: found on pinterest (pinned by liz schneider) via live creating yourself
p.s. more inspiring quotes
February 3rd, 2012 | 4 Comments »
The inspiration for this color mood board came from a recent episode of Project Runway. The contestants were challenged to design an outfit influenced by unique gelato flavors. Mondo, one of the contestants, chose cantaloupe gelato and I loved his creation! I hope you enjoy this color board and would love to hear what color is currently inspiring you :).
sources: pen pal stationery kit (halligan smith via design*sponge )|profile print (stephanie corfee via pinterest)|flowing skirt (rustic beauty)|font (ali edwards)|painted print (layla grace)
p.s. more color inspiration
February 1st, 2012 | 8 Comments »
Do you ever feel as if you’ve hit rock bottom? Maybe you’ve taken a leap of faith and the wings you had hoped would appear on the way down never developed. You followed a calling, listened to a burning passion, and hoped the results would be stunning. You bet on Plan A working, but it didn’t. The results are less than miraculous. You feel defeated. The hardest part of being in this state of defeat is not the public humiliation or the blood, sweat, and tears you fed this calling. Rather, the hardest part of feeling defeated is the difficulty associated with dreaming again.
In order to dream again, really dream—bigger than big dreams, you must believe in yourself—in your ability to make your dreams a reality. There is no easy fail-proof way to regain your self-confidence. However, there are steps you can take to begin to rebuild your self-confidence. The goal is to avoid becoming your worst enemy—criticizing yourself at every time. It’s okay to feel defeated, but it’s not okay to BE defeated.
To rebuild your self-confidence, begin to notice when your inner critic takes the stage. Rather than feed this critic, redirect your attention. Below are quotes I’ve collected to help you with this redirection. Find the words that resonate for you and write them in your journal or bookmark this post to easily find words to focus on when your inner critic vies for your attention. Little actions, such as reading a few quotes, can create large changes in your life. The key is to make these little actions very simple for you to actually do. I hope these quotes provide restorative nourishment as you move forward on your journey.
You may have a fresh start any time you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not in the falling down, but in the staying down. —Mary Pickford
I was inspired to create my own opportunity and not to let others determine what my life could be. —Laura Nelli in Rue Mag (Jan 2012)
Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure. —Oprah Winfrey
Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark. In the hopeless swamp of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all, do not let the hero in your soul perish and leave only frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours. —Ayn Rand
The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. —Elizabeth Kubler Ross
We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope. —Martin Luther King
When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen: There will be something solid for you to stand upon, or, you will be taught how to fly. —Patrick Overton
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. —Eleanor Roosevelt
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. —Maya Angelou
Fall seven times, stand up eight. —Japanese proverb
We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. —Charles Swindoll
Prosperity is not without many fears and disasters; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. —Francis Bacon
Keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final. —Roger Babson
It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. —Herman Melville
Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. —Christian D. Larson
Mistakes are a natural part of life. We learn by experimenting; mistakes and failure can be important parts of our learning process. Einstein flunked grade-school mathematics. Edison tried over 9,000 kinds of filaments before he found one that would work in a light bulb. Walt Disney went bankrupt five times before he built Disneyland. If we accept setbacks, we can continue to risk, learn, and move on with excitement and satisfaction. —California Task Force to Promote Self-Esteem and Personal and Social Responsibility
You are enough. —@happyolks via twitter
This too shall pass. —@aboundlessworld via twitter
The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests. —Epictetus
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. —Robert Frost
The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache. —Marjorie Pay Hinckley
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. —Truman Capote
There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people will try to make you miserable; don’t help them by doing the job yourself. —Laurell K. Hamilton
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. —Winston Churchill
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. —Theodore Roosevelt
Just because you fail once doesn’t mean you’re gonna fail at everything. —Marilyn Monroe
The past has no power over the present moment. —Eckhart Tolle
What quote resonates for you? Do you have a quote to add to this list?
image: kikki-k
daily quote inspiration (i’m addicted to quotes!): quote art on pinterest + short quotes on twitter (#quote)
January 30th, 2012 | 8 Comments »
I came across this quote by Georgia O’Keeffe in the latest O Magazine. It is beautifully inspiring.
photograph: joyhey on society6
January 23rd, 2012 | 3 Comments »
January 20th, 2012 | 85 Comments »
I had so much fun with today’s giveaway! I was given the daunting task of choosing a dress from the vast selection of gorgeous dresses in the Shabby Apple online store for one of YOU to receive!
I decided to narrow my selection to dresses that would be perfect for spring—day or evening. I was pulled to the dresses that were BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT! I love to wear colorful + cheerful dresses in the spring. After much deliberation, I’ve chosen Mariposa Grove. I am in love with the color and the simple elegance the dress exudes. It looks so easy and comfortable to wear; yet, with the petal details around the neckline, the cap sleeves, and scoop neckline on the front and back, this dress is full of style. It would be perfect for an outdoor wedding, a bridal shower, luncheon, or brunch with friends. Okay, I’m sold!
And for my male readers, this dress would be a wonderful gift for Valentine’s Day!!
Giveaway Details
PRIZE: Shabby Apple’s Mariposa Grove Dress (no exchanges for the winning dress)
TO ENTER: “Like” Shabby Apple on Facebook, then leave a comment below saying: “LIKED!”
BONUS ENTRY: Leave a second comment below with where you would wear this dress!
LOCATION: United States
GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Friday January 27th at 9 PM EST
P.S. If you purchase anything from Shabby Apple within 30 days, enter the code “ripple10off” to receive a 10% off coupon on your order. Just enter the code at checkout!
P.P.S. I did not receive compensation for this giveaway. I just love giving stuff away—especially items that I would love to receive myself :). I live vicariously through my giveaway winners!!
UPDATED WITH WINNER (Sun 1. 29.2012 @ 3:00 PM EST)!!
Congratulations, Susan Harmony!! I will be emailing you soon to receive all of your information!!
January 18th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Confession: this color board was the hardest to create so far! Yet, it’s my absolute favorite to date :). Chartreuse is a tough color—with so many different shades between yellow and green. I found tons of images but as I put them together, the shades were totally off. As I worked on this board, I encountered an additional difficulty: completely forgetting the name of the color! After looking the name up about ten separate times, I finally wrote CHARTREUSE on a post-it note and stuck it on my computer (this did the trick!).
What I learned: this color is tough to design with for a novice like me (i.e., someone who calls it that crazy yellow-greenish color). To overcome my color knowledge deficit, I realized that the trick is to use this color to add an unexpected splash of cheer to a space or outfit. I adore the use of it in patterns (e.g., ikat, chevron, herringbone), especially for smaller accessories like throw pillows, jewelry trays, or tea towels. But to add a spectacular bold statement, I am loving the use of chartreuse to cover a sofa or even painting a door or wall in this gorgeous hue.
would love to know: love or hate chartreuse? what color is inspiring you this week?
sources: couch in cheerful office space (design*sponge via apartment therapy) | bloom pattern in circles (west elm—bloom pillow cover) | chartreuse tights (kate spade via matters of style) | you are here now print (farouche)
January 8th, 2012 | 10 Comments »
This post is part of Reverb11. Through January 15th, I will be sharing my responses to the remainder of the prompts. You can expect “regular” content during this time as well :). My Reverb11 responses are a bit different than usual—more vulnerable, less polished, more frequent, and probably more interesting!
22. Mischief
What can you do to add a spark of mischief into your life?
I had a lot of fun brainstorming responses to this question! At first, I avoided this prompt hesitant to come up with ways others would find interesting. When I let go of this need to please, my inner nerd got creative with some mischievous tasks for 2012!
color my hair | do karaoke (extra points if done in public) | go to an improv class (extra points if I actually get up and do something in this class) | pretend I’m someone else (the polar opposite of myself) for 24 hours | leave random gifts for strangers to find | create a product in 24 hours (a la alexandra franzen) | work with the music on all day | wear an outfit composed solely of neon colors
23. Magic
What do you consider to be every day magic in your life?
four letters: hope.
photograph: jenny ebert for brooklyn bride
January 6th, 2012 | 5 Comments »
Ready or not, winter is in full force! For this mood board, I chose to focus on shades of brown. I sorted through so many gorgeous photos, but chose to go with a simple few that evoke a sense of coziness. I hope this board inspires you to create a yummy mug of hot chocolate, throw on a warm scarf, and indulge in some well deserved winter “me time.”
How about you, are you ready for the winter cold? What are some of your favorite cozy winter activities?
sources: woman with brown scarf (pinterest via ignite light)|sitting in chair (found via pink wallpaper)|chevron bracelet (the vault jewels)|painted driftwood (a creative mint for decor8)|cake with brown bow (martha stewart)
p.s. even more color inspiration
January 2nd, 2012 | 15 Comments »
A new year has arrived and with it a beautiful opportunity to reflect on the past, be mindful of the present, and to manifest what you hope to cultivate over the next twelve months. But, as I shared in my first post of the new year, transitions can be difficult and rarely do they follow a prescribed path. We are each on a different journey and periods of universal transition (like a new year) can act as a trigger with a multitude of effects. Prior to sharing a little inspiring activity for 2012, I want to begin this post with a simple mantra, “everything will be okay.” This phrase is beautiful to whisper to yourself—on both easy and difficult days. It’s also perfectly fitting for however you may be feeling in relation to this new chapter, chapter 2012.
When thinking about the next twelve months, I find it helpful to switch my mindset to that of my future self. I first got this idea from my friend Jess Constable who writes an annual letter to her future self (highly recommend!).
STEP ONE: I begin by asking my future self (i.e., Carolyn + 12 months from today) for one word that has had significant meaning over the past year. In 2012, my one word is confidence. Ali Edwards recently posted a roundup of “one words” chosen by others that your future self may enjoy perusing :).
STEP TWO: After choosing one word as an anchor for 2012, I brainstorm 12 actions that align with the overall sentiment of this word. I jot down one action per month and put these actions on an index card in the front of my daily journal.
STEP THREE: This year, I’m going to further explore this activity by jotting down one positive action/experience/accomplishment after each month. Then, at the end of 2012, I will have created a personal positivity treasury with a record of positive moments to reflect upon. I really think this simply activity will be tremendously powerful.
Inspired by the one-word concept, I created a cheerful printable file for you to download. [download pdf]
I also created a printable document to serve as a visual reminder of this new journaling activity. I plan on keeping mine pinned to my inspiration board for easy reference and updating as the year unfolds. [download pdf]
How do you keep track of positive experiences and accomplishments throughout the year? If you’ve chosen one word for 2012, I would love to know what you’ve selected!
image (everything will be okay): ello lovey
